Supporters of chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party Imran Khan, a former international cricketer, cheer while listening to him speak during what has been dubbed a "freedom march" in Islamabad August 20, 2014. (FAISAL MAHMOOD/REUTERS)

Supporters of chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party Imran Khan, a former international cricketer, cheer while listening to him speak during what has been dubbed a "freedom march" in Islamabad August 20, 2014.(FAISAL MAHMOOD/REUTERS)

Pakistani opposition leader halts talks with government as parliament besieged
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Pakistan’s famous cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan says he has
suspended talks with the government after it appointed a new police chief in the
capital Islamabad for an expected crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Thousands of Khan’s supporters are besieging parliament for a second day
Thursday to press Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over alleged election
fraud.

Protesters led by Khan and anti-government cleric Tahir-ul Qadri, who
normally lives in Canada, tore down barricades late Tuesday and entered the
so-called Red Zone that houses key government buildings.

Their representatives held talks with the government early Thursday after
Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Rasheel Sharif, requested that Sharif’s
government negotiate with the protesters.

The protests have raised tensions in the nuclear-armed U.S. ally, which has a
long history of political turmoil and military dictatorships.